Wire handling machine



Aug. 16, 1966 D. D. MORRIS WIRE HANDLING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 20, 1964 5 V. m Mm R m Mm m0 W D w mom 5 4 W w D Aug, 16, 1966 D. D. MORRIS 3,266,694

WIRE HANDLING MACHINE Filed April 20, 1964 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 In ventor Dfll/GL 45 DA vw Mam/s Attorneys Aug. 16, 1966 D. D. MORRIS 3,266,694

WIRE HANDLING MACHINE Filed April 20, 1964 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Dauems DA v/J) MORRIS Attorneys Aug. 16, 1966 D. D. MORRIS WIRE HANDLING MACHINE 4 Sheets$heet 4 Filed April 20, 1964 Inventor 5 w pm 5 3,266,694 WIRE HANDLING MACHINE Douglas David Morris, Eastleigh, England, assignor to Barron and Crowther Limited, Eastleigh, England, a British company Filed Apr. 20, 1964, Ser. No. 360,936 tClaims priority, application Great Britain, May 2, 1963, 17,381/ 63 14 Claims. (Cl. 226168) This invention relates to wire coiling or drawing machines of the kind, hereinafter referred to as the kind, described, having a block in the form of .a substantially cylindrical drum held stationary in use of the machine while wire is coiled around a wire feed end thereof by means of a distributor arm rotating about the block, the coils of wire passing off -a coil delivery end of said block to coil storing means or some further treatment.

Such machines may be used for coiling wire after it has been drawn, coated or galvanised, for example, or may form part of a wire drawing apparatus, in which case the distributor arm may carry a die to provide a final draft for the wire.

In one machine of the kind described known hitherto, the block is mounted on a fixed frame member at the wire feed end of the block and is held stationary thereby, and the rotatable distributor arm is mounted downstream of the coil delivery end of the block. With this arrangement, however, the speed of operation is necessarily restricted and has to be carefully controlled so as to prevent the rotating distributor arm from interfering with the coils passing off the delivery end of the block. Hence the very high speed of operation often required in wire coiling or drawing machines is not possible.

This speed limitation may be overcome by mounting the rotatable distributor arm upstream of the Wire feed end of the block where it can not interfere with the wire coils passing from the delivery end of the block, but in this case it is necessary to mount the block so that it is held stationary without either interfering with the movement of the distributor arm or interfering with the free passage of wire coils away from the block to coil storing means.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved wire coiling or drawing machine of the kind described and wherein the distributor arm is mounted upstream of the Wire feed end of the block.

According to the invention there is provided a wire coiling or drawing machine of the kind described wherein the distributor arm is mounted upstream of the wire feed end of the block for rotation about the block, and including a roller and a worm conveyor having their axes substantially parallel to each other, said roller or said conveyor being rotatably carried by said block while said conveyor or said roller respectively is rotatably mounted on a fixed support separate from said block, the arrangement being such that during operation of the machine interengagement between the periphery of the roller and the periphery of the thread of the worm conveyor restrains the block from rotation, while the remainder of the thread of said conveyor serves to engage the successive coils moving away from the delivery end of said block.

In order to prevent backlash of the block during starting and stopping of the machine, the machine will usual ly be provided with a pair of said rollers mounted on said block or said fixed support with said worm conveyor mounted on said fixed support or said block respectively extending between and abutting the peripheries of both of said pairs of rollers.

Usually the drum-like block will be mounted with its longitudinal axis substantially vertical and with the rotatable distributor arm mounted above the block so that the coils of wire will fall from the coil delivery end of the block under the action of gravity.

In one embodiment of the invention said roller or rollers or said worm conveyor may be carried on the under side of the block at the delivery end thereof with its axis or their axes substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the block.

In this embodiment the cooperating Worm conveyor or roller or rollers will be mounted on a suitable rigid frame beneath the block, and coil moving means may be provided whereby the wire coils after falling from the block are moved in a direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the block and between said abutting roller or rollers and said worm conveyor by means of said Worm conveyor to coil storing means.

The coil moving means may take many forms but preferably consists of continuous belt conveyor, in which case said belt conveyor, said worm conveyor or roller or rollers fixedly mounted beneath the block and the block itself may be pivotally mounted so as to direct coils to any one of a plurality of coil storing means as required.

If the worm conveyor is mounted on said fixed support it may be attached to a table provided with said coil moving means and situated beneath said block. It is sometimes convenient in this case to provide an elongated worm conveyor extending beyond the sides of said block, so that the coils fall from said block directly into engagement with said elongated worm conveyor which thus acts as said moving means for moving said coils away from said block to the coil storing means e.g. a former.

In another embodiment of the invention said roller or rollers or said worm conveyor may be carried at the side of the block with its axis or their axes parallel to the axis of the block and abutting said worm conveyor or said roller or rollers respectively which is or are mounted on said fixed support to one side of said block. Means may be provided for moving the coils passing from said block in a direction substantially at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the block to coil storing means. The coil moving means is preferably pivotably mounted so as to direct the coils to any one of a plurality of coil storing means as required, and may comprise, for example, a belt conveyor, an inclined plate or a vibration conveyor.

Restraining means may be provided adjacent said block to control the passage of wire coils therefrom, and means may be provided adjacent the abutting roller or rollers and worm conveyor to guide the coils into engagement with said worm conveyor and prevent any tendency to rise which the coils may have.

The rotatable distributor arm may be driven by any suitable external motor by means of a belt drive, for example. Alternatively the distributor arm may be driven by means of a torque balance motor mounted on the distributor arm or on said block, of the kind, for example, disclosed in British Patent No. 835,291.

When the worm conveyor is carried by said block it may conveniently be rotated by the distributor arm drivmg means.

In order that the invention may be more readily understood a number of embodiments thereof will now be de scribed by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a sectional side elevation of one embodiment of a wire coiling machine in accordance with the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary sectional elevation on the line II-II of FIG. 1;

FIGURE 3 is a plan view of the conveyor table and rollers of the machine shown in FIG. 1 showing the disposition of a number of wire coils moving thereon;

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary sectional side elevation of a modification of the machine shown in FIG. 1;

FIGURE is a fragmentary sectional elevation on the line V-V of FIG. 4;

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary sectional side elevation of a further modification of the machine shown in FIG. 1;

FIGURE 7 is a sectional elevation on the line VIIVII of FIG. 6;

FIGURE 8 is a sectional side elevation of a further embodiment of a wire coiling machine in accordance with the invention;

FIGURE 9 is a fragmentary sectional elevation on the line IXIX of FIG. 8; and

FIGURE is a fragmentary sectional side elevation of a modification of the machine shown in FIG. 8.

Referring now specifically to FIGURES 1 to 3, the coiling machine comprises a block 1 rotatably mounted 'by means of bearings 2 upon the lower end of a partially hollow, substantially vertical, cylindrical spindle 3. The spindle 3 is itself rotatably mounted at its upper end within bearings 4 set in a fixed frame 5.

A collar 6 is mounted around the spindle 3 and is keyed thereto as shown at 7. The collar 6 carries a distributor arm 8 extending beyond the block 1 and having a rotatably mounted guide pulley 9 at its outer end. A further guide pulley 10 is rotatably mounted on the collar 6 and extends into a slot 11 in the spindle 3.

In use of the machine driving means (not shown) rotate the spindle 3 by means of a worm drive 12 engaging a worm wheel 13 mounted upon and keyed to the spindle 3. The distributor arm 8 rotates with the spindle 3, and wire after passing over a pulley 14 mounted on the frame 5, through the spindle 3, around the pulley 10, and out to the pulley 9 is coiled around the block 1 immediately below the upper rim 15 thereof.

The block 1 is prevented from rotating with the spindle 3 by means of a pair of rollers 16 extending transversely of the block 1 and rotatably mounted in a support 17 attached to the block 1. Said rollers 16 abut the thread 19 of a worm conveyor 18 which is rotatably mounted on brackets 20 attached to a table 21.

Belt conveyors 22 are mounted on either side of the worm conveyor 18 above the table 21 such that their upper surfaces are in the same plane as the root of the worm thread 19 of the worm conveyor 18 as shown (in FIGS. 1 and 2). In use of the machine the belt conveyors 22 are driven by a motor (not shown) via a belt 23 and a pulley 24 so as to move the wire coils 25 falling from the block into engagement with the worm conveyor which is rotated by a motor (not shown) via a belt 26 turning a pulley 27 mounted on a shaft extension 28 of the worm conveyor 18. The worm conveyor 18 rotates at a speed such that the axial advance of the worm thread 19 is the same as the speed of the belt conveyor 22. Thus in use of the machine the wire coils are guided into correct engagement with the tapered and innermost end of the worm conveyor 18 by a deflector plate 29 and pass through the worm conveyor 18 beneath and clear of the rollers 16 without any restriction and are fed along the conveyors 22 to coil storing means such as a former (not shown) placed at the ends thereof. In FIG. 3 the movement of the coils (shown chain dotted) upon the belt conveyors 22 as described above is clearly shown.

A number of restraining clips 30 are mounted alongside the block 1 and bear against the coils formed therearound thus preventing slipping of the coils upon the block, and controlling the fall of coils therefrom.

The table 21 is rotatably mounted upon a shaft 31 by bearings 32, and may be turned about shaft 31 by means of a Worm 33 driving a worm wheel 34 attached to the table 21. The worm 33 is carried by a support 35 keyed upon the shaft 31. By turning the table 21 about the shaft 31, the conveyors 22 are able to feed the wire coils to any one of a plurality of coil storing means (not shown) distributed in a circular fashion about the shaft 31.

In the modification shown in FIGURES 4 and 5 of the wire coiling machine shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the worm conveyor 18 is mounted on brackets 36 attached to the block 1 and abuts a pair of rollers 37 mounted above the table 21, the upper surfaces of said rollers 37 being level with the upper surfaces of the belt conveyors 22. No deflector plate is provided in this modification, and the worm conveyor is driven directly by the rotatable spindle 3 by means of bevel gears 38.

FIGURES 6 and 7 show a further modification of the wire coiling machine shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 wherein the belt conveyors 22 are dispensed with, and an elongated worm conveyor 39 is mounted on the table 21 and extends below and beyond the diameter of the block 1 with the root of the worm thread 19 being substantially in the plane of the top surface of the table 21. The worm conveyor abuts the pair of rollers 16 mounted on the block 1 and is rotated by means of a motor 40 via pulley 41, belt 42, and pulley 43.

In operation wire coils fall from the block 1 directly into engagement with the worm conveyor 39 which moves the coils along the table 21 beneath the rollers 16 to the coil storing means (not shown).

It is to be understood that although in the modification shown in FIGURES 6 and 7 the table 21 is shown without rotating means, rotating means similar to those disclosed with reference to FIGURES 1 and 4 may be provided if required.

The embodiment of the invention shown in FIGURES 8 and 9 is basically similar to that shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. In this embodiment, however, the worm conveyor 44 is mounted beneath and on the block 1 at one side thereof with its axis parallel to the axis of the block 1. The root of the worm thread 19 on the outward facing side of the worm conveyor 44 is substantially in line with the side wall of the block 1, and the worm conveyor 44 abuts a pair of rollers 45 mounted on a fixed support 46 thus maintaining the block 1 stationary.

The worm conveyor 44 is rotated, via a belt 47, by the spindle 3, and the spindle 3 is driven via sprocket wheels 48 and 49 by the torque balance motor 50 mounted on the block 1, and of the kind, for example, disclosed in British Patent No. 835,291.

In operation of the machine, motor 50 rotates the spindle 3, and the distributor arm 8 coils wire around the block 1. Wire coils fall from the lower end of the block 1 and are passed through the rotating worm conveyor 44 at the same speed as the coils are formed on the block 1. The wire coils fall onto a belt conveyor 51 which moves the coils to coil storing means (not shown). The conveyor 51 may be freely rotatable upon its support 52, so that the wire coils may be directed to one of a plurality of wire coiling means (not shown) situated adjacent the machine.

FIGURE 10 shows a modification of the embodiment of the invention shown in FIGURES 8 and 9 which is identical thereto except that the worm conveyor 44 is mounted on the fixed support 46, the pair of rollers 45 are mounted upon the block 1, and the worm conveyor 44 is driven by external means (not shown) via a belt 53.

Although with some embodiments of the invention described hereinabove the spindle 3 is driven by external means, and in other embodiments by a torque balanced motor mounted upon the block, it is to be understood that both forms of driving means are equally applicable to all the embodiments described hereinabove.

Although a wire coiling machine is described in each of the above embodiments, a wire drawing machine suitable for providing a final draft for the wire in a wire drawing apparatus may be obtained by replacing or supplementing in each embodiment the pulley wheel 9 at the end of the distributor arm 8 with a die through which the wire is arranged to pass before being coiled round the block 1.

I claim:

1. A wire handling machine comprising: a stationary support; a distributor arm rotatable on said support about a fixed axis; a coiling block rotatable about said axis at one side of said arm whereby said arm may coil wire on said block, said coils then moving axially from said block for movement along a path extending parallel to said fixed axis and then generally laterally thereof; a rotatable worm conveyor member and at least one roller member in rolling engagement with the outer periphery of said conveyor member, said members being rotatable about spaced axes parallel to a portion of said path; one of said members being rotatable on said block and the other member being rotatable on said support; said conveyor member being arranged to engage and convey portions of successive turns of said wire along said portion of said path and between the axis of said conveyor member and said roller member, said members serving to prevent rotation of said block about said fixed axis.

2. A machine as defined in claim 1 including a pair of said roller members spaced about the axis of said conveyor member and rotatable about parallel axes.

3. A machine as defined in claim 1 wherein said fixed axis in substantially vertical, said block being below said arm whereby successive coils drop therefrom by gravity.

4. A machine as defined in claim 3 including means for moving coils along said laterally extending portion of said path.

5. A machine as defined in claim 4 including means pivotally mounting said last-named means to change the lateral direction of said lateral portion of said path.

6. A machine as defined in claim 1 wherein said members are arranged with their axes extending parallel to said lateral portion of said path.

7. A machine as defined in claim 6 including an endless belt conveyor extending along said lateral portion of said path adjacent said members to convey successive coils to and from said Worm conveyor.

8. A machine as defined in claim 7 wherein said fixed axis is vertical, said block being below said arm and wherein said support includes a portion, rotatable about said fixed axis and carrying said belt conveyor and one of said members whereby said belt conveyor, said members and said block may be rotated as a unit about said fixed axis to selectively direct the lateral portion of said path in diiferent horizontal directions.

9. A machine as defined in claim 6 wherein said fixed axis is vertical, said block being below said arm and wherein said worm conveyor is mounted on said support with its axis extending along the lateral portion of said path; said Worm conveyor being of a length to extend beyond the sides of said block so that successive coils fall from said block directly onto said conveyor member.

10. A machine as defined in claim 1 wherein said members are mounted at a side of said block and With their axes extending parallel to the portion of said path which extends parallel to said fixed axis.

11. A machine as defined in claim 10 including restraining means adjacent said block to engage coils of wire thereon and control their movement therefrom.

12. A machine as defined in claim 1 including guide means adjacent said members for guiding successive coils into engagement with said worm conveyor.

13. A machine as defined in claim 1 including torque motor means mounted on one of said block and arm, for rotating said arm about said fixed axis.

14. A machine as defined in claim 1 including drive means for rotating said arm about said fixed axis; said worm conveyor member being journalled on said block; said drive means being arranged to also rotate said conveyor member about its axis.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,103,237 9/1963 Crum 1402 FOREIGN PATENTS 547,442 5/ 1956 Belgium.

CHARLES W. LANHAM, Primary Examiner.

H. D. HOINKES, Examiner. 

1. A WIRE HANDLING MACHINE COMPRISING: A STATIONARY SUPPORT; A DISTRIBUTOR ARM ROTATABLE ON SAID SUPPORT ABOUT A FIXED AXIS; A COILING BLOCK ROATABLE ABOUT SAID AXIS AT ONE SIDE OF SAID ARM WHEREBY SAID ARM MAY COIL WIRE ON SAID BLOCK, SAID COILS THEN MOVING AXIALLY FROM SAID BLOCK FOR MOVEMENT ALONG A PATH EXTENDING PARALLEL TO SAID FIXED AXIS AND THEN GENERALLY LATERALLY THEREOF; A ROTATABLE WORM CONVEYOR MEMBER AND AT LEAST ONE ROLLER MEMBER IN ROLLING ENGAGEMENT WITH THE OUTER PERIPHERY OF SAID CONVEYOR MEMBER, SAID MEMBERS BEING ROTATABLE ABOUT SPACED AXES PARALLEL TO A PORTOIN OF SAID PATH; ONE OF SAID MEMBERS BEING ROTATABLE ON SAID BLOCK AND THE OTHER MEMBER BEING ROTATABLE ON SAID SUPPORT; SAID CONVEYOR MEMBER BEING ARRANGED TO ENGAGE AND CONVEY PORTIONS OF SUCCESSIVE TURNS OF SAID WIRE ALONG SAID PORTION OF SAID PATH AND BETWEEN THE AXIS OF SAID CONVEYOR MEMBER AND SAID ROLLER MEMBER, SAID MEMBERS SERVING TO PREVENT ROTATION OF SAID BLOCK ABOUT SAID FIXED AXIS. 